ITMF Releases 2023 Textile Cost & Carbon Footprint Report
The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has released its 2023 edition of the International Cost Comparison Report, offering deep insights into global textile production costs and, for the first time, a detailed analysis of the carbon footprint associated with each textile product across the entire value chain.
Developed with input from industry specialists under demanding conditions over the past two years, the report includes expanded geographic coverage with the addition of Uzbekistan and enhanced environmental metrics.
The report presents comparative data on cost structures across spinning, draw texturing, weaving, knitting and finishing segments. One of the notable findings is that the average cost to produce one metre of woven fabric made from cotton 1-1/8″ in a continuous open width (COW) process was USD 0.94 in 2023, excluding raw material costs.
However, this figure varied significantly between countries, ranging from USD 0.70 in Bangladesh to USD 1.54 in Italy. The spinning process accounted for an average of USD 0.31/m (USD 0.23 in Bangladesh to USD 0.54 in Italy), weaving added USD 0.25/m (USD 0.14 in Pakistan to USD 0.41 in Italy), and finishing contributed USD 0.38/m (USD 0.30 in Bangladesh to USD 0.58 in Italy).
In terms of yarn production, spinning 1 kg of NE/30 ring yarn under the study’s controlled conditions cost an average of USD 1.63/kg. Costs ranged from USD 1.19/kg in Vietnam to USD 2.85/kg in Italy. Labour costs also showed stark disparities, with Italy at the top at USD 0.97/kg, followed by the USA at USD 0.69/kg and Korea at USD 0.54/kg.
In contrast, labour was significantly cheaper in Indonesia (USD 0.07/kg), Egypt (USD 0.03/kg), and Bangladesh (USD 0.02/kg). Energy costs were highest in Central America (USD 0.58/kg), Italy (USD 0.48/kg), and Mexico (USD 0.42/kg), while remaining below USD 0.20/kg in Pakistan (USD 0.13/kg) and Egypt (USD 0.12/kg).
A major highlight of the 2023 report is the introduction of a carbon footprint analysis for the production of woven fabrics finished using continuous open width processes. The study found wide variation in emissions between countries due to differences in energy efficiency, technologies and sources of power.
India recorded the highest total emissions, exceeding 12.5 kg CO₂e per kg of fabric, primarily due to high-intensity spinning (4.4 kg) and weaving (4.3 kg) stages. China also ranked high, especially in the finishing process, which accounted for 3.9 kg CO₂e per kg. In contrast, Brazil reported the lowest carbon footprint at just under 4 kg CO₂e per kg, thanks to its reliance on renewable energy and efficient production systems.
The United States and Italy demonstrated relatively low emissions in the early stages of production, while newly included Uzbekistan reported moderate emissions, indicating potential for improvement.
These findings underline the importance of energy sourcing and process optimization in reducing environmental impact. The report serves as a valuable benchmarking tool for textile producers aiming to enhance both cost-efficiency and sustainability.
